Questions about Texas Renaissance Festival?? (amusement park, theater, high school) - Houston - (TX) - City-Data Forum

ourlongfamily · 10-24-2008, 06:04 PM

Questions about the Texas Renaissance Festival??

Is it age appropriate for a 10 and 14 year old?
Does it really start early in the morning?
Which is better Saturday or Sunday?
What can we expect to spend after going through the gates?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks for all of your help. We are new and looking for something to do one weekend.

chris_ut · 10-24-2008, 08:03 PM

Yes
10:30 is a good time to get there
Either is fine
Most food items are $4-6 and $2 for a drink, if your drinking alcohol the sky is the limit of course
Arsene is my favorite performer there. Don't be late! The Kids would probably enjoy Dead Bob as well.

Lake Conroe resident · 10-24-2008, 09:18 PM

In my opinion this is not an appropriate place to take a family, especially younger kids. Some will of course disagree but I know I will never take my family there. They are trying to replicate a time in history that had a lack of socially acceptable behavior and they do a good job at it.

crisma1001 · 10-24-2008, 09:34 PM

I had been there twice and mi kids enjoyed, now I might go with my grandchildren!!!

ShelbyGirl1 · 10-25-2008, 12:43 PM

I brought my kids around that age, and they enjoyed it. Sure the "players" can get a little risque, but they tone it down when kids are around. But, plan to drop some $ once inside..entrance fee is just that...everything else is extra.

epattridge · 10-25-2008, 09:36 PM

Families with kids can have a lot of fun there. Later in the day when the alcohol is really kicking in it might get a little different. Lots of the shows and performers will interact with the kids. They also can joke so the adults can understand it and the kids wont even know. I remember going when I was a young kid/ teenager and seeing the women with risque clothing. hubba hubba..LOL

Good idea to go on a Saturday. Lots of walking. Take Sunday to rest. The Texas Renaissance Festival is definately one thing I miss this time of year since moving away from home.

ZeroTX · 10-25-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ourlongfamily

Questions about the Texas Renaissance Festival??

Is it age appropriate for a 10 and 14 year old?
Does it really start early in the morning?
Which is better Saturday or Sunday?
What can we expect to spend after going through the gates?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks for all of your help. We are new and looking for something to do one weekend.

In my opinion, the humor is a bit "bawdy" and I probably wouldn't expose my 10 year old to it. There are occasionally skantily clad women around, and often it's women who should cover it up (it ain't nice to see), but it's no more than you'd see at the beach... it's just more style, hehe. That has been less of a factor the past 2 or 3 years, though. It seems the Ren Fest has gone family.... to a point. Much to my dismay. I liked it with more of an edge to it... much as I imagine the era to have been. It wasn't an amusement park for kids.

I always go on Saturdays, because to get the full impact of Ren Fest you need to get there early (10am at the latest) and stay until the fireworks show at sundown. Believe me, you won't be able to see everything in 8 or 9 hours. The comedy shows are HILARIOUS, but do contain some adult jokes.... I recommend The Other Brothers & Ded Bob Show, especially, but ANY of the shows in the big theaters are generally great.

Prices for food are amusement-park like, but NOT as high as a Texans game. If you go with a family of 4, I'd budget $100 for food and drinks for the day, because eating a meat on a stick and having a beer are just part of the experience!

Enjoy, but don't be angry when they make dirty jokes. It's part of the event.

Mom2Feebs · 10-26-2008, 10:27 AM

If this tells you anything--I worked the Ren Fest with my friends in high school through our theater department. We were wenches. At 16.

It was a lot of fun though!!

Desdicata · 10-26-2008, 02:02 PM

Take the family and enjoy some time together. Everything else is secondary to that. I assure you that there is nothing there the kids haven't already been exposed to on the evening news. Go early, it ends at sundown.

ZeroTX · 10-26-2008, 09:10 PM

Another reiteration of go early... it ends at sundown after the conclusion of the fireworks show in the joust arena. I highly suggest staying from open to close and go to the fireworks show at the end. I might suggest a small pocket flashlight or LED keychain light to assist with the walk back to the car, as the park is not lit. It's not pitch dark, though, and I've never had a problem walking back to my car.